A look back at Milwaukee's cryptosporidiosis outbreak and how the city responded. Then, why the City of Madison decided to remove all of its lead pipes. Later, Milwaukee Magazine focuses on fitness in its May issue. Plus, we meet a Milwaukee woman who spent 5 days in Newfoundland trying to get home on September, 11th, 2001.

Guests:

Paul Biedrzycki, former manager of Environmental Health for the City of Milwaukee

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Both cryptosporidium and lead have threatened Milwaukee’s clean drinking water. While there are stark differences in the two water contaminants, what can we learn from how the city dealt with both?

First, it’s important to state that cryptosporidium and lead are completely different.

Crypto is a bacteria. Lead is a metal. Crypto has one parasitic source, while lead has many (paint, dust, dirt, pipes). Crypto makes people visibly sick, but lead can be in the body for a long time without showing any side effects.

When the Lead and Copper Rule was first issued in 1991, it put federal limits on the acceptable amount of these metals found in drinking water. Cities started testing their water. Researchers experimented with chemicals that could inhibit the corrosion of pipes — the main source of contamination.

On Sep. 11, 2001, almost 3,000 people died during the terrorist attacks on New York’s World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and on the four planes used in the attacks. U.S. airspace was closed for five days and traffic was prevented from landing on or leaving U.S. soil. Many incoming planes had to be diverted in mid-flight.

Milwaukee Magazine has devoted many pages to health stories in past years. But this year, the publication is exploring health in a slightly different way. For example, you’ll find a local dentist who surfs on the cover of the May issue, which focuses on fitness. Carole Nicksin is editor-in-chief and publisher of Milwaukee Magazine, and she joined us in the studio to offer some background on the magazine's special issue.

Milwaukee Public Media is a service of UW-Milwaukee's College of Letters & Science